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Planning your Thanksgiving menu? Check out our favorite make-ahead Thanksgiving sides for a delicious, low-stress holiday.
Are you planning your Thanksgiving menu? While most of the year is dedicated to trying new recipes, we like to keep it traditional with Thanksgiving. We serve the same sides every year, and these are our tried-and-true family favorites. Alongside our turkey, we always enjoy the Pomegranate Cranberry Sauce, Make-Ahead Gravy, Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans, and Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes (all featured below!).
If you're looking for a new family favorite, give these a try! We've also included make-ahead tips so your Thanksgiving is delicious and stress-free. Here's a post on our favorite dinner rolls and here's a post with our favorite holiday desserts. Stay tuned for more Thanksgiving recipes to round out your holiday meal. What are you making this year? Any Thanksgiving cooking questions we can help you with? Let us know in the comments!
Easy Cranberry Pomegranate Sauce
This Easy Cranberry Pomegranate Sauce, with ginger, lemongrass and pomegranates has super fresh, vibrant flavor. And it takes less than 15 minutes to make!
The BEST Stuffing Recipe - Crispy, Buttery Herb Stuffing
This truly is the BEST stuffing recipe for so many reasons. It's crisp on top, light and moist inside, studded with fresh pears and sweet dried cranberries and BURSTING with delicious buttery, herb flavor. A big bonus is you can make it in advance and bake just before serving.
Delicious Make-Ahead Gravy (the real deal!)
This real-deal, make-ahead gravy is not only super delicious, but it also makes holiday entertaining so much easier!
Make-Ahead Bacon Wrapped Green Beans
These Bacon Wrapped Green Beans are extraordinarily delicious and can be prepped a day in advance for easy entertaining!
Maple Mustard Roasted Veggies
These smoky, savory, sweetly caramelized Maple Mustard Roasted Veggies are like candy; you won't be able to stop eating them - or making them!
Honey Maple Roasted Carrots
These are like candy; everyone always wants second helpings! This recipe definitely transforms everyday lowly carrot into something spectacular!
Slow Cooker Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
The easiest mashed potatoes ever, with no last minute fussing! These Slow Cooker Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes are super delicious and can be made a few days in advance.
Brown Butter Green Beans Almondine
This easy, elegant side dish features tender French green beans tossed in nutty brown butter with toasted almonds, shallots, and a hint of lemon. It's make-ahead friendly and perfect for holidays, dinner parties, or any special meal.
Nanny's Wonderful Cranberry Salad
This delicious cranberry salad is filled with fresh cranberries, red grapes, shredded coconut, toasted walnuts and freshly whipped cream. It makes a beautiful presentation on the holiday table!
Healthy Butternut Sweet Potato Casserole
Combining sweet potatoes, butternut squash and maple syrup, this healthy, make-ahead sweet potato casserole wows everyone!
Caramelized Pear Arugula Salad
This Caramelized Pear Arugula Salad is a show-stopper with fresh greens, pan-roasted pears, ruby red pomegranates, thin slivers of sweet white onion and butter roasted pecans. The delicious honey cider dressing ties it all together.
20-Minute Caramelized Sweet Potatoes
Super quick and easy, these Caramelized Sweet Potatoes are a healthy alternative to traditional, sticky, marshmallow recipes. And they taste like candy!
Rosemary Roasted Whole Cauliflower
This easy, prep-ahead Rosemary Roasted Whole Cauliflower is buttery crisp and golden brown on the outside and has a tender-moist interior.
Honey-Glazed (Stovetop) Carrots
These Honey-Glazed (Stovetop) Carrots with fresh herbs can be prepped ahead and then quickly finished before serving. They're so delicious, they disappear like candy! That's a warning to make plenty!Â
French Parmentier Potatoes
Don't be surprised if these crisp, golden Parmentier potatoes with pillowy soft interiors steal the dinner show! They can be prepped in advance for easy entertaining!
Harvest Apple Arugula Salad
I'm calling this a Harvest Apple Arugula Salad, but it could just as easily be called Fall in a Bowl. It's loaded with delicious autumn-inspired ingredients and finished with a fabulous Pomegranate Ginger Salad Dressing. SO GOOD!
Brown Sugar Curry Roasted Butternut Squash
With brown sugar, maple syrup, a touch of curry and a dash of cinnamon, this delicious Roasted Brown Sugar-Curry Butternut Squash will be sure to bring rave reviews!
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